Electricity rates in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines (population 212,086) is served by MidAmerican Energy. A typical home on its cheapest plan open to any household, RST, pays about $96 a month, 11.34¢ per kWh all-in: 20% below the Iowa average of the last 12 months.
Utility MidAmericanPopulation Census 2025 estimateState average EIA, 12 months to August 2026
Typical all-in priceRST
MidAmerican plans for a Des Moines home
| Plan | Typical bill | All-in ¢/kWh | Summer weekday windows | EV, 1,000 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSChecked | $99/mo | 11.71 | Same price all day | $27/mo |
| RSTChecked | $96/mo | 11.34 | Mid-peak 8 am–1 pm, Peak 1 pm–6 pm, Mid-peak 6 pm–10 pm | $23/mo |
Typical bill: average Iowa use of 848 kWh a month, shaped hour by hour (NREL ResStock), averaged over the year. EV: Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, 275 kWh a month from the wall, charging from its cheapest start hour. Full MidAmerican tariff details and sources.
Des Moines electricity: common questions
Who provides electricity in Des Moines, IA?
The center of Des Moines lies in MidAmerican Energy’s retail service territory, according to the federal service-territory map built from EIA-861 data. Territories are drawn approximately, so homes near the city limits can be served by another utility or cooperative; the name on your bill is the authority.
How much is electricity per kWh in Des Moines?
On MidAmerican’s RST plan, a typical Iowa home using 848 kWh a month pays about 11.34¢ per kWh all-in before taxes, or $96 a month. The Iowa average over the last 12 months was 14.20¢ (EIA).
How much does it cost to charge an EV in Des Moines?
Driving 1,000 miles a month in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD adds about $23 a month on MidAmerican’s RST plan when charging starts at its cheapest hour (12 am), against about $163 of gasoline for a 25.5 mpg car.
When is electricity cheapest in Des Moines?
Only on a time-of-use plan does the hour matter. On MidAmerican’s RST, summer weekday prices are highest in these windows: RST: Mid-peak 8 am–1 pm, Peak 1 pm–6 pm, Mid-peak 6 pm–10 pm. Running dishwashers, laundry and EV charging outside them costs less. Find the cheapest hour for an appliance.
Calculators with MidAmerican preloaded
Sources: population, Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates; city location, Census Gazetteer; service territory, Electric Retail Service Territories (HIFLD/ORNL, from EIA-861); tariffs, see the MidAmerican page.